Mark Levine's Inside Scoop

Censorship at Press TV and the End of the "American Dream"

December 7, 2007

Many of you have remarked upon the fact that I am no longer hosting the ATN/PressTV Show, “The American Dream.” You have a right to know what happened.
I was originally told I could host any topic without censorship dealing with American policies and politics, domestic or foreign, including even a show on the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as long as it was relevant to the USA.
So when the Iranian President came to speak in New York, I proposed a show with four of the best Persian scholars in the USA discussing the Iranian President and his American trip. The panelists that agreed to do the show had varying points of view, some quite praiseworthy of Mr. Ahmadinejad and some quite critical.
Although I specifically asked permission to do the show on this topic and was granted it, one hour before the show was scheduled to air live, the show was cancelled with no explanation given. I was later told that Press TV would not allow me to discuss the topic.
Shortly after that, I was fired. I was promised a new censor-free show, “Inside America,” to air on PressTV, but these promises have yet to be fulfilled.Ã‚Â I will not re-host a show on PressTV (or anywhere else) unless I am free to invite guests critical of any Government’s policies, whether it be the USA or Iran or any other country.
It sure looks like censorship to me.

Worker Conditions at Smithfield Foods

December 6, 2007

Video / Audio

The Inside Scoop on worker conditions at the largest pork processing facility in the world.

Guest: Leila McDowell of the Justice at Smithfield Campaign

The Smithfield Corporation has been officially invited and encouraged to participate live in this discussion. Although unable to attend tonight, they have provided a written statement and a promise to appear on a “Smithfield Update” show in February or March. They have asked me to provide their side of the story.

The Second Amendment: Who Has the Right to Bear Arms?

December 5, 2007

Audio

The United States Supreme Court’s decision to review the District of Columbia gun ban will be the first time since 1939 that the High Court has reviewed the Second Amendment to the Constitution. At that time, the Court held that the Amendment protects the rights of states to organize militias but not individuals’ right to own firearms. Indeed, that has ALWAYS been the holding of the U.S. Courts. The National Rifle Association has not changed the text of the Second Amendment, but their lobbying efforts may, for the first time in 217 years, change the meaning of the Amendment. The text of the Amendment is below:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”